| |
LOCATION: Fullerton, CA.
CONFERENCE: Big West (Western Division)
LAST SEASON: 13-14 (.481)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 7-9 (4th)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 2/3
NICKNAME: Titans
COLORS: Navy, Orange & White
HOMECOURT: Titan Gym (4,000)
COACH: Bob Hawking (Cal State Northridge '71)
record at school 51-84 (5 years)
career record 51-84 (5 years)
|
ASSISTANTS: Todd Johnson (Oklahoma '91)
Rich Bossenmeyer (Cal State Fullerton '89)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 7-6-13-12-13
RPI (last 5 years) 257-220-251-202-220
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in conference quarterfinal.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
|
Year after year, season after season, Bob Hawking awaits his breakthrough season with the Cal State Fullerton Titans. But the winning record hasn't come. In 1996-97, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, John Williams, missed the February stretch run and the team faltered to a 13-14 record. Two years ago (1997-98), the team was 3-6 in games decided by four points or less and finished with 12 victories. Last season the team seemed to be on a roll in mid-February, especially after a big victory on the road against Long Beach State, and then collapsed with three-straight losses two of them coming at home. Give Hawking credit for consistency. The Titans are always competitive, find a way to win even with what is essentially a big high school gym as homecourt, and play very hard. Yet they never quite seem to put it all together and push the program to the next level.
|
Blue Ribbon Analysis |
|
BACKCOURT C- BENCH/DEPTH F
FRONTCOURT C- INTANGIBLES D
Ike Harmon and the starting backcourt will keep Fullerton in most games, but the Titans simply don't have any depth. An injury to Harmon, Mark Murphy, Kenroy Jarrett or Matt Caldwell would effectively end Fullerton's season. There is hope. The Big West is down again this season (hasn't that been said every year this decade?) and the Titans could conceivably ride Harmon to a second-place finish in the Western Division. Or they could lose Harmon and finish with 10 victories. The Big West is that quirky this season, with definite favorites in each division (Long Beach State and New Mexico State) and then a pile of teams trying to glue together a roster in time for the league season. So yes, this could be the breakthrough season for the Titans. But don't count on it. |
This has been said before, but once again, it looks like this could be the year the Titans reach that higher ground. Fullerton comes into this season with three returning starters, including Ike Harmon, the biggest matchup problem in the league. Three other key bench players return, too. And there's a new freshman guard, Rodney Anderson, who should be able to help right away. "We have a solid nucleus to work with," Hawking said. "We've built some continuity by not being so dependent on junior-college recruiting. We have great flexibility and will be able to move people around to better attack opponents' weaknesses." This might be Fullerton's best shot at a breakthrough season. Fullerton has been hit with NCAA sanctions after a long NCAA investigation found infractions dating before the 1993 season. The Titans lose two scholarships for the next two years and can't play any exhibition games. Perhaps more importantly in the short run, Fullerton can't recruit junior-college athletes. That hurts, because this year's team might be a JC player away from being a winner. The offense will run through the 6-7 Harmon (15.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg), a two-year senior starter who was honored as a first-team All-Big West performer last season. He's a huge matchup problem for opponents because he can shoot (38 percent from three-point range) over or post up shorter defenders. Putting a big guy on him is even more dangerous he has the quickness to drive around most of the competition he faces. Harmon led the team in scoring, free throw attempts and makes, rebounding and blocked shots last season, all despite being the focal point of every defense. He will keep Fullerton in a lot of games all by himself. "Ike has come a long way from Santa Ana Valley High School and has posted two good years for the Titans," Hawking said. "He needs to continue to develop his overall game." Harmon has help inside in the bulk of 6-8, 220-pound junior Matt Caldwell (9.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg). He started 10 games last season and reportedly made significant improvement in his game over the summer. The other player Fullerton can rely on inside is 6-9 sophomore Josh Fischer (3.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg), who will spell Harmon and Caldwell. It's important that the three remain healthy. There isn't much else on the front line. The perimeter is equally talented and equally thin. It all starts with 6-foot senior Kenroy Jarrett (9.7 ppg, 4.0 apg), who proved his mettle last season when he broke his hand, yet only missed two games. He played almost 37 minutes per game and wasn't afraid to launch a three-pointer if needed, making 31 percent of his shots from behind the arc. Jarrett needs to cut down a bit on his turnovers, but in Fullerton's fast-paced attack, a little of that has got to be expected. Jarrett's running mate is 6-foot senior shooting guard Mark Murphy (11.5 ppg), who was a pleasant surprise after transferring from Glendale (Ariz.) Community College. Although he played some point guard when Jarrett was on the bench, Murphy's primary role was to keep defenses honest by shooting from outside. He made 66 of his 180 three-pointers, good for 37 percent, and he proved to be an effective gambler on defense (a team high 43 steals). The fifth starter will probably be 6-4 sophomore swingman Brandon Campbell (3.1 ppg, 1.7 rpg). He played just 14 minutes per game last season and struggled offensively. There isn't much else to choose from. And there definitely isn't a dependable player waiting in the wings if someone gets hurt. The best incoming player is 6-2 freshman guard Rodney Anderson of Los Angeles' Washington High. He'll be quietly schooled at the point-guard position, where he'll be expected to take over for Jarrett after this season. Providing depth on the frontline is 7-2 freshman center Mitch Deve, a 275-pound brute whom the coaches believe is at least one year away. The Titans were hoping to have an impact player join the roster in 6-8, 240-pound Patrick Ceresa of Switzerland. Ceresa was originally offered a scholarship by UCLA, but he wasn't eligible last season for the Bruins. He tried again this year with Fullerton, but once again didn't qualify for eligibility. That was a brutal blow. He was supposed to be the real deal. The Titans hope to fill out the bench with redshirts.
 | The 19th edition of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook is on sale now. To order, call 800-828-HOOP (4667), or visit their web site at
http://www.collegebaskets.com
|
| |
Conferences
America East
ACC
Atlantic 10
Big East
Big Sky
Big South
Big Ten
Big 12
Big West
Colonial
Conference USA
Independents
Ivy League
MAAC
Mid-American
Mid-Continent
Mid-Eastern Athletic
MCC
Missouri Valley
Mountain West
Northeast
Ohio Valley
Pac-10
Patriot
SEC
Southern
Southland
Sun Belt
SWAC
TAAC
WAC
West Coast
|
